Ram's eyes narrowed as he climbed back up, only to be met with an unexpected sight. Three people, two men and one woman, were tied up by vines, their bodies surrounded by Nyra and a group of Half-Drow cavemen.
One of the men was still awake, his face bruised and his breathing ragged.
The other two were unconscious, likely from severe injuries and sheer exhaustion. He vaguely remembered seeing them before entering the Void Space, with a group of six professionals.
But now, only three stood before him, captives at his feet. Ram immediately scanned the area, searching for the rest of their group. They could be hiding, waiting to rescue their comrades.
Yet, to his surprise, there was no sign of anyone else nearby—just the captured trio, Nyra, and the Half-Drow cavemen.
Nyra stepped forward, noticing Ram's wary expression. "Master, I found them while you were down below," she explained.
Her tone was calm, yet there was an underlying sense of pride in her efficient capture. "Seeing that they were humans, we didn't kill them outright. I thought it would be better to wait for your orders."
"Youve done well," Ram appreciated her, for still keeping them alive, at least they can get some information from the captives, even if they end up killing them.
Nyra on the other hand smiled sweetly, for Ram's complement. Then she started explaining what happened.
Ram's brow furrowed as he listened to her account. According to Nyra, while he and Korrin were investigating the third layer, this group of three professionals had come rushing out from a different tunnel.
The moment they laid eyes on Nyra and the Half-Drow cavemen, they attacked them without warning.
But against more than twenty Half-Drows, with six Rare qualities among them, their resistance had been futile. Overwhelmed by sheer numbers, they were subdued and captured before causing any damage.
Ram's gaze shifted to the prisoners again, and he activated his Spiritual Eye. Information flooded into his mind.
The two men, though battered, were both Tier 3 professionals. One was a Junior Knight, his armor cracked and smeared with blood.
While Ram was looking at them, the man who was still conscious, stared back at Ram. With surprise and confusion—his brow furrowed as he tried to make sense of the situation.
Why was a human standing here, among so many Half-Drows? And why were these Half-Drows treating him with such respect, waiting for his orders instead of killing them on sight?
He didn't know that the Half-Drow cavemen surrounding him were different from the ones who had attacked him earlier.
Yet, the fact that they hadn't been executed right away—and the human seemed to be in control—made him more cautious.
He became increasingly alert, unsure of what to expect next. His mind raced, trying to figure out how to respond.
As the man opened his mouth to speak, Ram stepped closer. He looked down at the injured man, his voice calm but firm. "This place isn't safe. We'll talk when we reach somewhere safer."
As he spoke his eyes flicked toward the dark entrance leading to the third layer. The memory of those thousands of Half-Drows was still fresh in his mind, and he didn't want to risk being discovered.
The Spiritual Planter's eyes followed Ram's, noticing his concern. He was clearly weighing his options, trying to decide whether to trust the human or resist.
But the exhaustion in his body left him with little choice. Nodding slightly, he relented, his defiance replaced by a wary acceptance—for now.
Ram quickly turned to Nyra. "We're moving. Get them up. We might need them alive for information."
Nyra nodded, motioning to the other Half-Drow cavemen, who carefully lifted the unconscious captives and restrained the awake one with a bit more care.
Korrin, who had been silently observing, stepped closer to Ram. "Do you think those Half-Drows below will come after us?" he asked, his tone serious.
Ram shrugged, though his mind was still calculating the possibilities. "If they saw us, they might. But we're not sticking around to find out. Let's move."
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